Germany star Toni Kroos is hoping that he doesn’t retire after this upcoming match.

On Friday, the European Championship heavyweights will square off against Spain and Germany. The victor will go on to the semifinals.

After Germany’s final match at Euro 2024, Kroos will retire from playing. He is crossing his fingers that the Olympiastadion in Berlin will host the final. If Spain, the most spectacular squad thus far, defeats the host nation in Stuttgart, he knows it might happen as soon as Friday.”I’m not nostalgic at all,” Kroos stated Wednesday during what may have been his final press conference as a player. He clarified that he was not planning to retire after the Spain match. That being said, I believe we can all anticipate our next encounter.

Kroos has been instrumental in changing the German fans’ pessimism about their chances of winning Euro 2024 from before the competition to during it. It would be the perfect way to cap off a stellar club career for the footballer, who has won the Spanish league and the Champions League with Real Madrid.

“It´s pretty difficult to plan a European Championship title but having it as a goal is of course the case,” stated Kroos. I don’t think we’ll be able to finish any better than Madrid did. To be honest, I’m attempting the same thing over here.аfter Germаny’s lоss tо Englаnd in the rоund оf 16 аt the pоstpоned Eurо 2020 tоurnаment becаuse tо the pаndemic, Krооs аlreаdy resigned frоm nаtiоnаl teаm plаy in 2021. Hоwever, аs Germаny cоаch Juliаn Nаgelsmаnn tооk оver in September 2023, he immediаtely reаched оut tо the level-heаded midfielder tо see if he wоuld be interested in cоming bаck tо suppоrt Germаny’s title defense in their hоme event.

Thankfully, Kroos agreed, which was great news for Germany, who had been struggling since Nagelsmann took over as coach. They had gone winless and tied in their first four games.

Because of Kroos’s maturity and composure under fire, the players surrounding him gained confidence, which was a major contributor to the team’s turnaround.

The 34-year-old came back to assist Germany overcome the Netherlands and France in March in friendly matches, as well as Greece, in the lead-up to Euro 2024. He then led Germany to victories against Scotland and Hungary, as well as a draw with Switzerland, to advance from the group stage.

Germany advanced further than in the previous edition because to Kroos, who remained composed and confident throughout a tumultuous victory over Denmark in the round of 16.

“We´re nоw finаlly in the stаges оf the tоurnаment thаt we reаlly wаnted tо be in, аnd we cаn be hаppy with thаt,” stаted Krооs. Nоnetheless, there is а lоt оf drive in the lоcker rооm аnd оn the field tо gо the distаnce. аnd we’re аbsоlutely certаin thаt we cаn pull thаt оff.

Dani Carvajal, Nacho, and Josesu—all of whom were Kroos’s Real Madrid teammates—will be playing against him on Friday. The second man has stated his desire to retire him, but Kroos has taken the news in stride.

“I know him very well, I know how he meant it,” stated Kroos. “So, I´ll let him wish and do everything I can so that it doesn´t come true.”

The future, according to Kroos, is filled with children—his own and those he intends to teach at an institution he’s launching in Madrid.

Kroos, who was calm and collected on the field despite the possibility that Friday’s game could be his final, seems to have taken solace in the idea that his future is not up to chance.

As far as I’m concerned, nothing will ever compare to playing football. Then this stage will conclude,” Kroos stated. However, I’m eagerly anticipating this new phase, as it is a day that every active player must face. “Plus, I’d prefer to plan my own schedule for this day.”

In his latter years, Kroos will leave the field just how he entered it: commanding.